What is a "gaming" monitor, and do I want/need one?

[George K]

I continue to wonder if a new iMac (either the current 24" or a potentially future larger version) would be a good choice for me vs a MacMini.

Looking at monitors, I see that there is a category called "gaming".

I'm not a "gamer." I browse the web, watch movies/tv, etc.

What are the advantages of a "gaming" monitor and should I consider one?

[Aqua Letifer]

This is so a Mark/Phibes question.

[Axtremus]

If I have to guess, I’d say “fast refresh rates,” maybe even draw a line that says 120 Hz or better.

You do not need one.

[Loki]

I have merely more monitors for work and don’t bother with them. I have a phenomenal TV which really matters for the 4K and/or HD experience.

I chose based on whether it is going to enhance my experience.

[George K]

@axtremus said in What is a "gaming" monitor, and do I want/need one?:

If I have to guess, I’d say “fast refresh rates,” maybe even draw a line that says 120 Hz or better.
You do not need one.

Thanks. That makes sense.

I looked at some yesterday, and I could see a difference between the cheaper monitors and the more expensive ones...if I looked REALLY closely. At normal viewing distance, my aged eyes couldn't tell the difference.

[xenon]

TLDR: it truly is only useful for gaming.

You're paying mostly for high refresh rates, and technology to dynamically match your monitor's refresh rate with what's being put out by your computer.

What use is that? Games? Games are hard on GPUs (and Mac's typically don't have GPUs that can push high frame rates), and their "frames per second" go up and down all the time depending on what's on the screen.

You can probably get a non-gaming premium monitor that has very accurate color reproduction. That would be more useful. Don't pay for the gaming functions. Gamers pay INSANE amounts of money for their gear.

[89th]

@George-K Lately I’ve been considering getting one of those super wide curved monitors. Would like to test it out in the store a bit first though…

[Klaus]

@george-k said in What is a "gaming" monitor, and do I want/need one?:

What are the advantages of a "gaming" monitor and should I consider one?

Yes it refers to refresh rates and the like, but also just marketing. If you are not a gamer, there is no reason to buy a gaming monitor, but there's also no reason not to buy one. For instance, I'm not a gamer but I do have a "gaming" monitor. They are not significantly more expensive or something.

[mark]

@89th said in What is a "gaming" monitor, and do I want/need one?:

@George-K Lately I’ve been considering getting one of those super wide curved monitors. Would like to test it out in the store a bit first though…

I have a 39" Ultra-Wide Curved LG and a 49" Ultra-Wide Samsung G9 curved . I love both of them.

After sitting down in front of the 49" the 39" hardly seems curved to me anymore. That 49" is very curved! It also has an insane 240Hz refresh rate. The 39" has a 75Hz refresh rate.

The 39"

The 49" after I unboxed it.

Where it lives permanently...

[mark]

Oh and George, you do not need a "gaming" monitor.

I would look for something faster than 60Hz refresh rate though. 75 is better than 60Hz, but 120 is better.

[89th]

@mark said in What is a "gaming" monitor, and do I want/need one?:

I have a 39" Ultra-Wide Curved LG and a 49" Ultra-Wide Samsung G9 curved . I love both of them.

Wow…cool! I would probably go with the 39”. Do you find you need a really strong graphics card to support it? Also, weird question but can you “set” windows to be a normal 1920x1080 or whatever to replicate a normal user’s monitor? For example if you’re doing website design.